Survivors stare at bleak future
Pope may visit devastated villages in central part of country
Pope Francis on Sunday said he wants to visit some of the central Italian villages devastated in this week’s earthquake, as survivors and rescue workers dug in for the long haul with winter approaching.
The Pope said the Catholic Church shared the “suffering” of the victims of the quake that claimed nearly 300 lives and pledged: “As soon as possible, I hope to come and see you.”
The Argentine Pontiff told thousands of worshippers gathered for the Angelus prayer in Rome’s Saint Peter’s square he had a “spiritual closeness” to residents of the mountain villages in a remote area straddling the Umbria, Marche and Lazio regions.
Meanwhile, as hope faded of finding anyone else alive and the search for bodies nearly complete, rescue workers and survivors turned their
Pope says Catholic Church shares ‘ suffering’ of victims of quake that claimed nearly 300 lives; pledges ‘ to come and see you soon’
attention to bleak future, with winter around the corner.
“We’re getting ready for winter. Given what’s happened in other quakes, we’re going to spend winter here,” said Emidio Chiappini, from the devastated Sant’Angelo village.
The government has pledged to support immediate reconstruction and Mr Chiappini said he hoped authorities would send pre- fabricated housing to stave off the frost that will soon descend on the mountainous region.
The Italian government has freed up around 60 million euros ($ 67 million) in immediate aid, added to which will be around 10 million euros in donations.
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According to Italian media, the government is poised to appoint a special commissioner to oversee the huge reconstruction operation, which is being hampered by aftershocks — more than 1,800 since the earthquake struck on Wednesday.
With the immediate grief fading, the focus was switching to how such damage could have been wrought in an area so close ( 50km) to L’Aquila, which was hit by a 2009 earthquake in which more than 300 people perished.
Prosecutor Giuseppe Saieva has indicated that property owners who commissioned suspected sub- standard work could be held responsible for contributing to the quake’s deadly impact.
“If the buildings had been constructed as they are in Japan, they wouldn’t have collapsed,” he said.
“If it emerges that individuals cut corners, they will be pursued and they will pay a price,” the prosecutor said. — AFP